Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Lysia Faarheit is a new noblewoman.

Her father, Niklas Faarheit, was a soldier captain in the Kingdom of Klein, and was given the rank of knight (ritter) for his services in a border dispute.

His eldest daughter, Licia, was also working hard as an apprentice knight.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Next, Faarheit!

Yes, please!

The female knight apprentices are being trained. They are currently engaged in a mock battle with wooden swords against their instructors.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

There are many situations where female knights are needed, such as guardianship of royalty and high nobility.

Here in the Kingdom of Klein, the number of female knights has been increasing in recent years.

The instructor who is giving me practice is the vice-captain of the Kingsguard female knight corps. Her name is Gloria Allstadt.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Her light brown hair is cut very short and her eyes are a steeple color, giving her a vivacious impression. At 168 centimeters tall, she is on the tall side for a woman, and her slender figure has made her the object of admiration of her gender.

Most female knights are the children of lower nobility or knight families. Gloria's family was a prominent family that had produced knights and lady knights for generations.

Among such families, Licia, whose father was a new noble, stood out a little.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"She's going to do her best, isn't she?

"Well, my family is of the new nobility, so if I don't work hard, I'll fall in my own generation.

Half of the colleagues watching Licia's training were children of noble families. They are not bothered if they do not become knights.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I'd rather be disqualified and married off sooner rather than later.

Some even have the audacity to say so.

On the other hand, those born into knightly families are different.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I was born into a family of knights for generations... I can't lose to a boy who's just a drop in the bucket..."

"Look at that outfit. There's nothing in the way of form. There's no elegance in it."

Whether she knows it or not, Licia is still going for her instructor no matter how many times she is hit by the wooden sword. And at the end...

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Kyaah!"

The training ends with a big pop.

"Oh, thank you very much."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Licia thanks the instructor, breathing hard on her shoulder.

"All right, now everyone is finished, right?　Next is the straw cut. You are in charge, get ready.

Yes, sir.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The participants attach a bundle of straw to a stake in the ground. You are to cut it with the sword.

When you cut with the sword, think about the line of the blade. The blade must be perpendicular to the object to be cut. If you don't, you won't be able to cut, and the sword may be bounced, bent, or broken.

The instructor explains.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

This is very different from iai with a Japanese sword. In iai, the sword is often cut at a 45-degree angle. This is due to the fact that the makiwara is made of tightly rolled tatami mats, which are very difficult to cut.

However, the straw slashes that Licia and the others were required to do were simply to make the blade line up and to pull the sword back slightly to increase the sharpness of the cut, and the strength of the straw was very low.

"I'll show you first."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

The female knights were basically using shortswords. The instructor pulled out the shortsword on her hip.

"Ah!"

With a fierce and piercing sound, the shortsword is flashed in a single horizontal motion. The straw is cut in half. A sigh escapes from the female apprentice knights who are watching.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Instructor Allstadt, how nice!

And whispers like that.

"Okay, try it. The first letter is the hardest. Let's start with Anderson.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yes, sir. Ah!

It's no good. The blade's not straight. A hundred strikes. Next, Bogart.

Yes, sir. ......

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

What are you doing?　You're not swinging fast enough! You're not swinging straight!　Swing 300 times!　Next, Carter.

Yes, sir. ......

This time, he cut the straw with flying colors.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Okay, that's not so bad. Next ......"

Thus, a total of 33 female apprentice knights try to cut the straw one after another. Those who couldn't cut it were given a shake.

Finally, it was Licia's turn.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"The last one at Farheit. Go ahead.

Yes, sir. ......!

Licia successfully slices the straw into two pieces.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Mm, okay. ......?　Farheid, show us your sword.

"Yes, sir."

Suddenly the instructor asked her to show him her sword, and Licia impatiently held it out.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hmmm. Hmmm... you use a really nice sword. Where did you get it?　If it's this good, I'd like to have one myself.

"Well, um, that's the sword that I had repaired by a magecraftsman I know. He said it was originally just iron, but it got bent, and he mended it.

He was in a hurry and his explanation was a bit slow, but the instructor seemed to understand.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Hmmm, I see. You have a good friend. Take good care of this sword.

Gloria then turned to the group,

"Ten laps around the training ground and we're done for the day. Everyone, run!"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

And she led the way.

Ten laps around the training ground after a full day of training is a tough task. Some of the runners dropped out, but Licia ran the whole way.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

In 3457, the year 3457 of the continental calendar, the neighboring Kingdom of Franz invaded the border, and Licia was appointed as a knight of the Guard of Honor and sent to the battlefield.

Licia could choose whether to be disappointed that she could not become a Knight of the Kingsguard, or to see this position as her true calling. Licia was the latter.

On the battlefield, Licia recalls a conversation she once had with Jin.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

, Jin said.

"What I can do ...... is to heal, I guess."

Through daily training and effort, Licia had mastered even intermediate level healing magic and had become a skilled healer in the rescue knight corps.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In that year, there were three skirmishes.

The third battle was the most intense one yet. With heavy casualties, Klein's army was forced to retreat, and they met Franz's army at Tetrada, about 50 kilometers back from the border line.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

At that time, a huge golem appeared.

A huge golem appeared and made it impossible for them to fight.

The Franzian army was melted down, and everything made of metal, from weapons to armor, from golems to tableware, was melted down, and before the Kleinian army knew it, they were knocked unconscious and their weapons and armor were taken from them.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Without weapons and armor, there was no way they could engage in a proper battle, and the Franzian army retreated. Licia and the others were holed up in the tetrada, waiting for instructions from the headquarters.

"Licia, I heard you did well.

Then, her father, Niklas, came to visit her outside of working hours. Niklas is the deputy commander of the Third Order of the Knights of the Kingdom of Klein.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"I'm so glad you're okay!"

Father and daughter take each other's hand and rejoice in each other's safety.

"Licia, I heard you did well too."

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Yes,......, even though some people couldn't be saved."

Niklas says gently to his daughter, who looks down at him.

"It can't be helped. Everyone is prepared to come to the battlefield. It is fortunate that there were no casualties among the general population.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

That's because your fathers did their best, isn't it?

That's what they do, and that's what they are proud of.

Such was the conversation between father and daughter that day.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"By the way, I'm the third son in the Rush family."

Finally, Niklas said what was bothering him the most as a father. But Licia's answer was,

"What?　Who is that?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

and he said he was relieved to hear her answer.

The next day.

The next day.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"Good morning, Licia.

"Good morning, Mr. Pascoe."

Pascoe Rush's face is red. In addition, he reads his lines in a barbed voice.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

It's a beautiful day, isn't it?

"It's cloudy, but ......

"Oh, yes, it is, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ......"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

Pascoe smiles and makes a fool of himself. Then he turns to Licia,

"Well then, I have a job to do!"

He salutes her and leaves.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

"You're funny!"

Licia then looked up at the sky.

"Guarding, huh ......?"

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

She puts her hand on her waist and is surprised to find that she no longer feels the familiar sensation there.

"It's gone, right ......?"

Licia has lost her shortsword, which she had been using since Jin fixed it for her.

Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com

This may have been another reason for her depression.